Tag Archives: MN North: Duluth Harbor

24 Hours of Lake Superior Magic!

Year 2, , ,

The  past week has been non stop drizzle, rain, wind and clouds, but yesterday that changed as the sun reappeared, and thus started 24 hours of magic! I live 600 yards above Lake Superior across from a wilderness creek which roars down to the big lake. The combination of Lake Superior, and the fall bird migration is an outdoor photographer’s dream.  The past 24 hours were a dream!

Pre-Dawn at Canal Park … the Buffalo enters the Duluth Harbor
A-Superior-Morning-Canal-Park-1

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Sunrise approaches as a Saltie waits anchored out on the lake
A-Superior-Morning-Canal-Park-3

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A Bald Eagle takes flight while migrating near McQuade Harbor
Y2-M11-King-of-McQuade-Bald-Eagle-1

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Horned Locks migrate through out area, down from the sub-Arctic
Y2-M11-Horned-Lark-4

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A Snowy Owl at dusk decides to winter in warm Duluth … a tundra arrival
Y2-M11-Snowy-Owl-1

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The Northern Lights set the sky on fire at Boulder Lake
Boulder-Lake-Nov-2015-Islands Boulder-Lake-Nov-2015-2Pines

Failed Birding Expeditions

Year 2,

The non birder may wonder, why do we do it? What could possibly make a sane human being arise before sunrise, and go out after sunset in search of a bird?! This question might seem harder to answer in light of how many times a birding expedition ends in failure. In short, why do we do it?

There are many possible answers, but in my case the response is simple … seeing the beauty in the world around me. Finding my sought after bird is only a bonus. For instance, today …

  1. Before sunrise I left my home in search of a red-throated loon. These birds migrate through our area having left their northern sub-Arctic home. I walked over four miles out Park Point to the Superior Entry of the Twin Ports Harbor
  2. After sunset I drove down to Duluth’s port terminal. My goal was to spot a snowy owl.

In each instance, I had information that indicated my target birds had been recently seen in my birding areas. However, I was a failed birder. Neither bird made an appearance for me. Before you think the outings were a failure, see my photos for today’s post. Beauty was all around me, just not my desired specific birds

A Superior Sunrise (ocean going freighter anchored out in Lake Superior)
Superior-Morning-Saltie

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A Superior Night (ocean going freighter unloading at the Port Terminal)
Superior-Night-Saltie

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A Snow Bunting (a different Arctic bird posed for me this morning)
Y2-M11-Snow-Bunting

Birding Duluth’s Industrial Past

Year 2

Let the fall migration begin! While one might not expect to find beautiful birding areas in the old industrial heartland of West Duluth, this is in fact exactly what one will find … gorgeous areas where one may spend hours without being disturbed by another human.

This morning I found two flocks of Least Sandpipers out at the end of the abandoned pier off Waseca Industrial Blvd Rd. In addition there were lots of warblers, cedar waxwings, and hummingbirds present. Better yet, the hike out to the end of the pier is a wildflower lover’s dream. Just park in the “ugly” abandoned pier; walk across a mucky connector path, and then you will hike amongst grass and wildflowers often over six feet tall! Take a look at the “map” for more directions, but follow the old tire ruts. It will lead you ultimately up into a grove of trees and to the end of the pier. Don’t miss checking out the opening in the grove of trees at the end of the pier … lots of wildflowers, milkweed,  and berry producing trees. The birds love this spot.

Least Sandpipers … first fall migrants … off to Central and South American
Y2-M08-Least-Sandpipers-Trio-b Y2-M08-Least-Sandpipers-Duo-3

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Directions to the Abandoned Pier
Duluth-Old-Pier